The band has been highly influential in the electronic dance music scene, especially synthpop, techno, and trance, partly due to their innovative work, recording techniques, and use of sampling. Their most successful album is arguably 1990's Violator, which reached the #2 position in the UK, #7 in the US, and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. The band has released a long series of high-charting singles over their three-decades long career. Enjoy the Silence is their most recognized song and one of history's most covered songs.
The original line-up was Dave Gahan, Martin L. Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke. In December 1981, Clarke left the band and later formed Yazoo, The Assembly, and Erasure. Alan Wilder joined the group initially in January 1982 as a live keyboardist but became an official member in December 1982. He left in mid-1995 to fully concentrate on his Recoil project, and the band continued as a trio. In 2010 Wilder re-joined Depeche Mode on stage after 16 years for a performance of Somebody during a show at London's Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Depeche Mode's origins date back to 1977, when Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher formed a band called No Romance in China, with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass. In March 1980, Clarke, Gore, and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar, Gore on keyboards, and Fletcher on bass. Soon after the formation of Composition of Sound, Clarke, and Fletcher switched to synthesizers. Dave Gahan joined the band in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a local scout hut jam session, singing to a rendition of David Bowie's "Heroes" and Depeche Mode was born.
While playing a live gig at the Bridge House in Canning Town, Daniel Miller, the founder of Mute Records, approached the band, who proposed a verbal contract. The result was their first single, Dreaming of Me, recorded in December 1980 and released in February 1981, reaching number 57 in the UK charts and followed soon by a real contract with Mute.
To date, Depeche Mode have released:
15 studio albums: Speak & Spell (1981), A Broken Frame (1982), Construction Time Again (1983), Some Great Reward (1984), Black Celebration (1986), Music For the Masses (1987), Violator (1990), Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993), Ultra (1997), Exciter (2001), Playing the Angel (2005), Sounds of the Universe (2009), Delta Machine (2013), Spirit (2017), and Memento Mori (2023);
8 compilations: People Are People (1984), The Singles 81-85 (1985), Catching Up with Depeche Mode (1985), Greatest Hits (1987), The Singles 86>98 (1998), Remixes 81-04 (2004), The Best Of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (2006), The Complete Depeche Mode (2006);
5 live albums: 101 (1989), Songs of Faith and Devotion Live (1993), Recording the Angel (a series of live recordings; 2006), Tour Of The Universe: Barcelona 20/21:11:09 (2009) and Live In Berlin (Soundtrack) (2014) ;
Over 50 singles: including Just Can't Get Enough, Everything Counts, People Are People, Master and Servant, Shake the Disease, Stripped, A Question of Time, Strangelove, Never Let Me Down Again, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, World in My Eyes, Policy of Truth, I Feel You, Walking in My Shoes, In Your Room, Barrel of a Gun, It's No Good, Home, Dream On, Freelove, Precious, Wrong and Heaven ;
14 live / video collections (VHS/DVD/Blu-ray): The World We Live In and Live in Hamburg (1985), Some Great Videos (1985), Strange (1988), 101 (1989), Strange Too (1990), Devotional (1993), The Videos 86>98 (1998), One Night in Paris (2002), The Videos 86>98 (2002), Touring the Angel: Live in Milan (2006), The Best of - Volume 1 (2006), Tour of the Universe : Barcelona 20/21.11.09 (2009), Live in Berlin (2014) and Video Singles Collection (2016)
It's Called a Heart
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know how easy it is to tear it apart
If I lend it to you, will you keep it safe for me?
I'll lend it to you, will you treat it tenderly?
There's something beating here inside my body and it's called a heart
There's a sun shining in the sky
But that's not the reason why I'm feeling warm inside
From the moment I started
I tried to be good about it
Yes, I've tried my best
And more or less, I spoke from my heart
There's a lot to be learned
And you learn when your heart gets burned
There's something beating here inside my body and it's called a heart
You know how easy it is to tear it apart
If I lend it to you, will you keep it safe for me?
I'll lend it to you, will you treat it tenderly?
There's something beating here inside my body and it's called a heart
Hearts can never be owned
Hearts only come on loan
If I want it back
I will take it back
I'll take my heart
But I will try my best
And more or less
I will speak from my heart
Yes, I will speak from my heart
Speak from my heart
There's a lot to be learned
And you learn when your heart gets burned
There's a lot to be learned
And you learn when your heart gets burned
There's a lot to be learned
And you learn when your heart gets burned
There's something beating here inside my body and it's called a heart
You know how easy it is to tear it apart
If I lend it to you, will you keep it safe for me?
I'll lend it to you, will you treat it tenderly?
There's something beating here inside my body and it's called a heart
You know how easy it is to tear it apart
The lyrics of Depeche Mode's song "It's Called a Heart" delve into the vulnerability and fragility of the heart, both figuratively and literally. The opening lines describe the heart as something beating inside the body, and how easy it is for it to be broken, which creates a sense of caution and insecurity.
As the song continues, the singer lends their heart to the listener, asking whether they will take care of it and treat it tenderly. It's a risky move, as the heart can never be fully owned and may need to be taken back at some point. The idea of speaking from one's heart is also emphasized, suggesting the importance of honesty and authenticity in relationships.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet reflection on the joys and dangers of being vulnerable, whether it's giving someone access to your heart, or opening yourself up emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something beating here inside my body and it's called a heart
I feel my heart beating and it's vulnerable to harm.
You know how easy it is to tear it apart
You have the ability to hurt me and damage my heart.
If I lend it to you, will you keep it safe for me?
I'm willing to trust you with my heart, but I need assurance that you'll protect it.
I'll lend it to you, will you treat it tenderly?
I'm willing to give you my heart, but I need you to handle it delicately.
There's a sun shining in the sky
There are good things happening around me, but they're not the reason why I feel warmth.
But that's not the reason why I'm feeling warm inside
The warmth I feel comes from my heart.
The answer isn't classified, it's my heart
The source of my feelings is not a secret, it's my heart.
From the moment I started I tried to be good about it
I've always made an effort to treat people well.
Yes, I've tried my best And more or less, I spoke from my heart
I've done my best to communicate genuinely and from my heart.
Hearts can never be owned
No one can truly possess someone else's heart.
Hearts only come on loan
Our hearts are only temporarily entrusted to others.
If I want it back I will take it back
I have the right to reclaim my heart if I feel it's not being handled with care.
I will try my best And more or less I will speak from my heart
I will do my best to speak honestly and from my heart.
There's a lot to be learned and you learn when your heart gets burned
We can gain valuable lessons from heartbreak and pain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Kuznecov
There's something beating here inside my body
And it's called a heart
You know how easy it is
To tear it apart
If I lend it to you
Will you keep it safe for me
I'll lend it to you
If you treat it tenderly
There's something beating here inside my body
And it's called a heart
There's a sun shining in the sky
But that's not the reason why
I'm feeling warm inside
The answer isn't classified, it's my heart
From the moment I started
I tried to be goodhearted
Yes I tried my best
And more or less
I spoke from my heart
There's a lot to be learnt
And you learn when you heart gets burnt
There's something beating here inside my body
And it's called a heart
You know how easy it is
To tear it apart
If I lend it to you
Will you keep it safe for me
I'll lend it to you
If you treat it tenderly
There's something beating here inside my body
And it's called a heart
Hearts could never be owned
Hearts only come on loan
If I want it back
I will take it back, I'll take my heart
But I will try my best and more or less
I will speak from my heart
Yes I will speak from my heart
Speak from my heart
There's a lot to be learnt
And you learn when you heart gets burnt
There's a lot to be learnt
And you learn when you heart gets burnt
There's a lot to be learnt
And you learn when you heart gets burnt
There's something beating here inside my body
And it's called a heart
You know how easy it is
To tear it apart
If I lend it to you
Will you keep it safe for me
I'll lend it to you
If you treat it tenderly
There's something beating here inside my body
And it's called a heart
You know how easy it is
To tear it apart
Witold Witoszek Records
I don't understand why the band hate it. It's bizzare, intriguing, extraordinary and I love it.
Thiago Oliveira
How come?
JeterSwisherFan88
I guess you can say it’s an interesting kind of “out of the ordinary” in its own right.
Kelley
I love this song too!
Merve Guner
How do u know that they hate it ?
Kelley
@Merve Guner They've said so in interviews.
nikos geo
An underrated little diamond, lost in their uncountable masterpieces
Bri
Depeche Mode is a diamond amidst the shit today, then, and through and through 🖤
Luca Ucca
i couldn't say it better, in less words
kyran barrera mccourt
Very true indeed, the vids very Duran Duran lol?